Which GCSE specification should I choose? NATRE offers this guide to the draft specifications taken from material supplied by the awarding s. Please note that this guide should be read in conjunction with the DfE s subject content which sets out the material to be studied in relation to each topic of each religion and should not be taken as a substitute for the officially published content. All material is subject to Ofqual accreditation in the autumn term and could easily change between now and then. Full course Option One Part One The study of TWO religions with a focus on TWO topics from each religion: Beliefs and Teachings and Practices ( of the qualification) Part Two The study of FOUR themes from texts and or philosophy and ethics in the modern world ( of the qualification) WJEC Part one: Study of Religions 50% Beliefs and teachings and Practices from either: (Catholic ) AND One world faith chosen from: 1. Buddhism 2. Hinduism 3. Islam 4. Judaism 5. Sikhism Each section examined though one 1 hour paper compulsory questions Part Two: Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern World 50% Study of issues of: Relationships Life and Death Good, Evil and Suffering Human Rights, Religion and Social Justice Assessment Examined though one 2 hour paper compulsory questions OCR: Beliefs and teachings and Practices from two religions chosen from: * Roman Catholic* Hinduism Examined through one 2 hour paper (30 minutes per theme per religion) Study of four themes: Relationships and families The existence of God and ultimate reality Belief and non-belief Examined through one 2 hour paper (30 mins per theme)
AQA Edexcel B Beliefs in Action Topics: Beliefs and teachings and Practices Study of two religions 1. * 2. (Catholic )* 3. Islam 4. Judaism 5. Hinduism 6. Buddhism 7. Sikhism Each of the two religions chosen is examined by TWO 5-part compulsory questions (24 marks each question) There will be one question for each topic for each religion (four in total) Exam: 1 hour 45 mins 96 marks (plus five marks for spelling, grammar and specialist terminology). Religious, philosophical and ethical studies in the modern world: Themes: 50% EITHER Four chosen from the six below: Religion and relationships Religion and life The existence of God and revelation Religion, crime and punishment Religion, human rights and social justice TWO chosen from the six above (25%) PLUS Two themes from St Mark s Gospel (25%) Each of the four themes chosen is examined by one five-part compulsory question (24 marks each). Four questions in total This specification integrates the study of two religions with the study of themes in philosophical and ethical studies in the modern world: Two religions chosen from: Catholic * * Hinduism Sikhism. AND applied to two areas of study chosen from the three below. Each of these areas is worth 50% of the GCSE: Area of Study 1 is Ethics. This explores God, The Family, Worship as well as Life and Death. (50%) Area of Study 2 is Peace and conflict. This explores God, Reconciliation, Worship and Peace (50%) Area of Study 3 is Philosophy. This explores God, Belief, Worship and Equality (50%) Exam: 1 hour 45 mins 96 marks (plus five marks for spelling, grammar and specialist terminology). Students sit TWO papers. There are four sections within each paper with a combination of structured questions (worth 25%) and extended open response/critical thinking.(worth 75%) This means there are 7 papers available for each Area of Study - One for each of the 7 religions offered. Structured questions make up 25% of the GCSE
Full course Option Two 1(a) The study of ONE religion on FOUR topics: Beliefs and Teachings, Practices, Sources of wisdom and authority, Forms of expression ( of the GCSE) 1(b) The study of a SECOND religion on TWO topics: Beliefs and Teachings, Practices, Sources of wisdom and authority (Worth 25% of the GCSE) 2 The study of TWO themes with a focus on texts and or philosophy and ethics in the modern world in one religion (Worth 25% of the GCSE) Edexcel A Faith and Practice in the 21st Century Part one (1): Study of Religions 1 50% (Catholic *, * or Islam) Component 1 Primary Religion. This is worth 50% of the GCSE Students would study four topics 1. Beliefs and teachings 3. Sources of wisdom and authority 4. Forms of expression and ways of life 1 hour and 45 minutes examination 112 marks worth 50% Part one (2): Study of Religions 2 25% Component 2 Second Religion. Students would study two topics: Beliefs and Teaching Practices. Seven religions offered chosen from: Catholic * * Hinduism Sikhism. 50 min examination 56 marks worth 25% Part Two: Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern World 25% Optional Component 3 Philosophy and Ethics in primary religion. Two themes: 1 Arguments for the existence of God from a variety of viewpoints within a religion. 2. Relationships and families Optional Component 4 Textual Study. One textual study chosen from: Mark s Gospel and Qur an 50 minute examination 56 marks worth 25% 1. Component 1: Primary Religion = 50% 2. Component 2: Second Religion = 25% PLUS EITHER 3. Component 3 Philosophy and Ethics.25% of GCSE) 4. Component 4 Textual Study. 25% Each paper follows the same structure choice of two questions; Structured questions make up 25% of each paper; Extended open response/critical thinking make up 75% of each paper. AQA Catholic Catholic (75%) Four topics 1. Beliefs and teachings 3. Sources of wisdom and authority 4. Forms of expression A study of a second religion chosen from Judaism and Islam (25%) PLUS A study of two themes (25%) from one religion
Short Course WJEC OCR: Edexcel B short course AQA short Course Part One: No information available at this time No information available at this time A study of ethics in relation to one religion chosen from: Buddhism Catholic Hinduism Islam Judaism Sikhism Areas of study: God, The family, Worship, Life and Death A study of two topics: 1. Beliefs and Teachings In relation to two of the following three religions: One examination of one hour Section A: 12 compulsory questions, six on each chosen religion (48 marks). Section B: 10 compulsory questions, five on each theme (48marks). 96 marks in total plus five marks for spelling, grammar and specialist terminology Part Two: A study of Peace and Conflict in relation to one religion chosen from: Buddhism Catholic Hinduism Islam Judaism Sikhism Areas of Study: God, Reconciliation, Worship and Peace A study of two themes from philosophical and ethical studies in the modern world: Religion and Relationships One examination of one hour The Areas of Study are the same titles as the full course but have less content The whole short course is assessed by one written examination 1 hour and 45 minutes
Edexcel A short course A study of two topics: 1. Beliefs and Teachings In relation to two religions chosen from:, Catholic, Islam and Judaism (50%) * and Catholic is a prohibited combination 2 x 1 hour papers one for each religion Each paper worth 50% of the qualification